Magistrate's Court, Queenstown.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1587, 29 April 1887, Page 5

Magistrate's Court, Queenstown.

Monday, 25th April, ISS7. (Before C. C. Boyes and W. Warren, Esqs., J's-P.) John Satellite, charged witb being drank en 23rd instant, was discharged with a caution. FALSE PHETESCES. The same person was then charged, on the information of P. M. Peters, with having, on the 23rd instant, obtained goods by false pretences, by giving a valueless cheque for £lO in payment for same. Accused, in reply to a question, said he desired to be dealt with summarily. He admitted having tendered the cheque, but said he did not intend it to be in naymcnL P. It. Peters, draper, Queenstown, deposed to accused having come into his shop on Saturday last, saying that he wanted to buy a coat. He got a coat and two silk handkerchiefs, the price of same being £2 17s. Accused tendered in payment a cheque (produced) signed by himself, for £lO on a Dunedin bank, and a«ked for the change out of it. Witness declined to take the cheqne, when accused walked away with the clothes. The Dunedin bank had been communicated with and, in reply, stated that no person of accused's name bad an account with them. Accused was sentenced to six weeks' hard labor in Invercargill cad. Larckxv.—Sarah Jones was charged with having, on the 7th instant, stolen from the Terminus Hotel, Kingston, one cloak or ulster, the property of Janet Kerr. Sergeant M'Leod conducted the case for the prosecution. Mr Turton, for accused, pleaded not guilty, and also asked that she might be summarily dealt with. Janet Kerr, daughter of Mrs Kerr, widow, Kingston, deposed that on Wednesday night, 6th instant, accused arrived by the train and stayed at the Terminus Hotel that night. Accused stated that she had been in the Dunedin Hospital, suffering from the effects of a kick from a horse, and that she was going on to Bannockhurn. The hotel was fail and accused was put in witness' bedroom. She returned next morning as far as (iarston. saying she was going to meet her husband first. The ulster t reduced was the property of witness; it was • >uj.t I*2 months a.o at Thomson and Beattie's, Imercatgill. Witness knew the cloak by many li-tle things ; it had ?£ buttons, she took the collar off and. after redu-iug it, sew>'d it on again, and she took it in at the sides. She first missed the cotton the Monday after accused left. The piece of cloth produced was a pattern sent the police. Cross-examined—Accused voluntarily told me ahe was from the hospital, Dunedin. and said she came up to Kington instead of Garston, by mistake. I did the stitching in the alterations made in the c-iat—which was made to order, and I know by the bill that there were 36 buttons on it. Laura Hatton, servant at the Terminus Hotel, Kingston, corrolx-.rated the evidence of previous witues*, and stited further, that accused nad her luggage in a small ptilow case. Crossvexamired—Accusef carried the hsjgnge cp to l.er room herself. She also took away the liiigagi next morning. Kuew there were 36 buttons on tiie coat because Miss Kerr and herself counted tlitm together. The ccat produced Mas hanging behind the door of bedroom in winch accused slept. Did not bt-lieve that accused bought it at Carter and Co.'s, Dunedin, a week or two age. Constable Burrows, who travelled from DancJin on the 6th instant with accused, deposed that she had no u!*ter on then. Serg\ M'Leod deposed that, from information received, on the 11th instant, regarding loss of the . ulster produced, he went to the Terminus Hotel, Kingston, and also cot the pattern of cloth I produced, which was similar to that in the ulster stolen. He arrested accused at Bannockbum, and found the ulster produced in her house. Cross-examined —Miss Kerr valued the c"it at £2 10s. and gave a full description of it. Witness was certain the collar hau been taken off; he had l«ea a tailor at one time himself. (Laughter.) The name of accused's husband is W. W. Jones, Accused took the ulster out of a box or off a door or wall in the bout where she was arreted. Ac used ■*LI she bought the ulster at Carter and Co.'s, D'inedin, for £l. Th«* police had telegraphed C irter and Co., who replied—"Sorry we cannot t: °.ce the sales further titan one. week." Mr Turton said accused went with a Mrs Coates 1 1 Carter and Co., where she bought tiie ulster on thp 4th instant. The Court was adjourned till 3 p.m., in order to allow an opportunity of ascertaining if Mrs Coates could corroborate the statement of the accused. On resumption of the Court, Sergt. M'Leod produced a telegram from the |<olice, Dunedin, to the effect th»t Mrs Coates had sold her effects on the previous Thursday with the intention of going to Wellington ; and that her whereabouts was not known now. Mr Turton consented to close the case here, and accused was sentenced to three months' imprisonment with ha:d lal<our in Invercargill gaol.